February 6, 1935 ~ December 19, 2022 (age 87)
Mary was born in Lone Camp, Texas on February 6, 1935, to Joseph and Gladys Howard, Sr. They moved outside of Dublin where she was raised on a dairy farm. She attended Dublin High School where she played volleyball, basketball, and graduated with the highest-grade point average in her class. She graduated from Dublin High School and married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Edward Pittman, in 1952 and moved to Corpus Christi. She and Raymond had 2 children, Julia and Danny. In 1978 she married John Allen Blackman, Jr. and they were together until his death. In 1986 Mary returned to Erath County to take care of Mama and Papa Howard in their final days. Mary remained in Dublin throughout the rest of her life.
Mary was a lifelong Christian and attended church at several different churches throughout the years, including Valley Grove Baptist Church and Cottonwood Baptist Church. She was a very hard worker and worked at each of her occupations for many years at a time. Most recently she worked for 29 years at Fibergrate. She was an avid genealogy buff, loved history, and enjoyed writing poetry and music. She really enjoyed playing her Hammond organ, visiting with people at Granny Clark & #39’s Restaurant, spending time in the yard, and taking care of her beloved cats and dogs. When the family came to visit, some of Mary’s favorite things were going to holiday parades, playing Yahtzee, and visiting the local history museums and cemeteries around the area, sharing her many stories.
Mary is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Eddie and Mary Howard, and sister-in-law, Ola Faye Howard. As well as her daughter and son-in-law, Joe and Julia Lyn (Pittman) Ford, and son and daughter-in-law, Danny Ray and Rhonda Pittman. Mary has 6 grandchildren, Jennifer and husband, Eric Hall, Randy and wife, Reagan Ford, Curtis and wife, Kathleen Richter Ford, Jessica and husband, Kyle Emerson, Brandon Pittman, Lauren and husband, Cesar Villa. Mary has 9 great grandchildren; Eli and Jacob Caruthers, Matthew and Natalee Richter and Abigail Ford, Nolan and Audrey Emerson, Jeremiah Pittman, and Emilio Villa. Mary was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Joseph Clayton Howard, Jr., and Don Howard, and sister, Betty Jane Hogue.
Visitation for Mary Frances (Howard) Blackman, 87, will be held from 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Lacy Funeral Home, 1380 N Harbin Dr, Stephenville, TX 76401. Service for Mary Frances Blackman, will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Lacy Funeral Home with Rodney and James McGlothlin officiating. Burial will follow at Upper Greens Creek Cemetery, in Dublin, Texas.
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